Week 13 "Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success."

Just For You

To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

~ Buddha

When time is a commodity and it feels like there just isn't enough of you to go around, the first thing we often let slide is our self-care. Not enough time? We stop exercising and sleep less! No time for meal preparation? We eat more fast food! Before long these quick fixes contribute to feeling lousy both inside and out. Taking care of ourselves is a long-term investment that reaches far beyond this moment. It might not be as convenient, but when we are strong-bodied and clear minded, everyone benefits, including the young people we teach each day. 

Educational Excellence

What Makes a Teacher Effective?

There's little mystery as to what makes one teacher more effective than another. After reviewing hundreds of meta-analyses on teaching effects, John Hattie (2009) concluded that "the current mantra, that teachers make the difference, is misleading" because "not all teachers have powerful effects on students"; indeed, he notes that "it is teachers' variability in effect and impact that is critical". Hattie concludes that "it is teachers using particular teaching methods, teachers with high expectations for all students, and teachers who have created positive student–teacher relationships that are more likely to have the above average effects on student achievement". Decades of research suggest that the following teacher behaviors, which serve as the touchstones for this chapter, distinguish highly effective teachers:

·         Highly effective teachers challenge their students. Good teachers not only have high expectations for all students but also challenge them, providing instruction that develops higher-order thinking skills.

·         Highly effective teachers create positive classroom environments. One of the strongest correlates of effective teaching is the strength of relationships teachers develop with students.

·         Highly effective teachers are intentional about their teaching. Good teachers are clear about what they're trying to teach and then master a broad repertoire of instructional strategies to help students accomplish their learning goals. They know not only what to do to support student learning but how, when, and why to do it.

Intentional Instruction

Kuehnle Core Value: We believe that students learn best when teachers establish clearly defined learning objectives and expectations, utilize research-based instructional strategies, continually assess programs and adjust strategies based on assessment. 

Collaborative Community

Kuehnle Core Value: We believe in working collaboratively with colleagues, students, and parents; sharing ideas and respecting other's opinions to achieve our common goals. 

Kudos to the 2^nd grade team for their Collaborative Community! They are having productive, reflective, and purposeful conversations in PLCs and weekly planning that impact instruction and student learning.  (J. Drew)